Everything's Alright

AMG Review of Everything's Alright

Ronnie D. Lankford
All Music Guide

Technically speaking, a grammarian could complain about the title of this Special Consensus album. "All right," after all, is seldom spelled "alright," as any Harbrace Handbook will explain. Perhaps this would matter if Special Consensus was a string quartet, but they're a luegrass band, and for country folks, Everything's Alright makes perfect sense. And if that doesn't work for the grammarian, the music that Special Consensus makes on the album will convince him or her that everything, indeed, is quite alright. The band is made up of banjoist Greg Cahill, mandolinist Ron Spears, guitarist Justin Carbone, and bassist Tres Nugent; Spears and Carbone split lead vocal duties, and everyone helps out on harmony. Special Consensus' brand of luegrass leans toward the traditional, which means the band includes everything from cheating songs like "How Many Times" to religious ones like "Lord Show Me the Righteous Pathway." There are a number of things that make Everything's Alright come together, like solid lead and harmony vocals and high-octane picking, but the underlying reason has to be the excellent performances. This gives the impression that Special Consensus is "live in the studio," and makes Everything's Alright easy to enjoy. For old fans or anyone who appreciates good luegrass, this album's alright.